The Bulwark Podcast JB Pritzker and Franklin Foer: Like Living in an Authoritarian Regime
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Oct 14, 2025 
J.B. Pritzker, the Governor of Illinois, discusses the rising tensions from federal immigration operations, explaining how local communities are bearing the brunt of aggressive ICE tactics. He advocates for civic engagement and calls on Democrats to unify and push back legally. Franklin Foer, Staff Writer at The Atlantic, offers a poignant analysis of Israeli hostages' resilience and the complexities of Middle Eastern diplomacy, while critiquing the growing influence of Big Tech on society and politics. Together, they explore the precarious balance between authority and community rights.
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Troops Were Temporarily Barred From Streets
- Illinois won a temporary restraining order preventing federal troops from patrolling state streets.
- The federalization and deployment of troops raised urgent legal and civil-rights questions on where the military can operate domestically.
ICE Agents Waiting Outside Churches
- J.B. Pritzker described ICE agents waiting outside Spanish-language Mass and asking people for citizenship papers.
- He recounted videos of U.S. citizens being asked for passports while selling food or walking in tourist areas.
Carry Proof Of Citizenship If At Risk
- Pritzker urged people who suspect they may be targeted to carry passports if they are U.S. citizens.
- He framed this as a heartbreaking but necessary precaution given current ICE tactics.
